Brussels, 13/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - Eurocorps is likely to be deployed in Afghanistan from 11 August to ensure command of the NATO's ISAF force on the ground. The multinational force, created in 1992 and consisting of five key countries (France, Germany, Spain, Belgium and Luxembourg), proposed, on 6 May, its services to NATO's military committee, which Eurocorps indicated, had been accepted. Nevertheless, the military decision may have been made but there still needs to be a political decision to send Eurocorps into the field, a decision which has to be taken by the North Atlantic Council (NAC).
Eurocorps requested that its mandate in the field be limited to six months, until February 2005, in order to be able to focus on its other commitments, notably in perspective of its participation in the NATO rapid reaction force (NRF). General Jean-Louis Py will lead the multinational force in the field, as it is France's turn to carry out the commanding role. The high command in Strasbourg indicated that the number of troops to deploy is not yet definitive but is could involve around "70% of Eurocorps".